Domaine de la Solitude

Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Cornelia Constanza

The Cornelia Constanza bottling is a celebration of Grenache. The wine hails entirely from Florent's magnificent centenary Grenache vines, the domaine's eldest, seated on the western slope of the hallowed La Crau on a colluvial soil of gallets roulés and safres. Though this plot is always vinified on its own, it is only bottled as this single-parcel wine in the truly great vintages (5 of the last 10). The wine pays homage to Cornelia Constanza Barberini (1716-1797), the last Princess of the Barberini Family. She married Giulio Cesare Colonna di Sciarra, Prince de Carbognano, and all of the family's Italian property went to the Colonna family. The wine is fermented whole-cluster, low and slow in concrete vats with a 35 day maceration and super soft extraction, giving tannins that are simultaneously powerful and supple, a character Domaine de la Solitude's wines are so often praised for. The 2021 vintage was aged 20 months in concrete tank (60%) and French oak foudres (40%). Florent's tasting notes: A full-bodied, elegant and refined wine, tannic while remaining velvety smooth with notes of gooseberry and garrigues supported by notes of toffee, cinnamon, cardamom, cocoa, and sichuan pepper, finishing very long on the palate.
Expressive nose of gooseberry and Garrigues. Drink now through 2035. A one hour decant recommended.